Our deepest condolences go to the families and communities who recently lost loved ones to the epidemic of gun violence across this country. We share the dismay and outrage of Americans everywhere over the lives shockingly cut short. How many times must we see on TV or read about another tragic gun killing at a school, a shopping center or even a city hall?

Parents around the country are trying to find out if any of the meat involved in the biggest beef recall in U.S. history found its way into their children’s school lunches, or still might show up there.

The House of Representatives went into recess for 10 days Feb. 15 without acting on President George W. Bush’s demand that they extend his sweeping authority to engage in warrantless spying under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Bush’s legislation also granted retroactive immunity to AT&T, Verizon and other telecommunications companies that collaborated in spying on innocent Americans.